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Bill Clinton: Obama Played Race Card On Me
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ShareApril 22, 2008 12:20 PM
ABC News' Rick Klein Reports: Bill Clinton accused Barack Obama's campaign of "playing the race card on me" and told a Philadelphia radio station that the Obama campaign took his Jesse Jackson comment and "twisted it for political purposes."
And as the interview concluded, Clinton turned to an associate and said, "I don't think I should take any s--t from anybody on that, do you?"
Making a campaign stop and enjoying another interrupted breakfast at Pamela's P&G Diner Tuesday morning in downtown Pittsburgh, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., was asked to respond to Clinton.
The Democratic nomination frontrunner seemed confused by the comments.
"So, former President Clinton dismissed my victory in South Carolina as being similar to Jesse Jackson and he is suggesting that somehow I had something to do with it," Obama said laughing, "Ok, well, you better ask him what he meant by that. I have no idea what he meant. These are words that came out of his mouth, not out of mine."
Watch the VIDEO HERE.
And at President Clinton's first polling stop in Pittsburgh, he too appeared unwilling to discuss the incident.
"No, no, no, that's not what I said," Clinton told a reporter who asked about the radio comments, "You always follow me around and play these little games. And I am not going to play your games today. This is a day about election day, go back and see what the question was and what my answer was. You have mischaracterized it just to get a another cheap story to divert the American people from the real urgent issues before us, and I choose not to play your game today."
Watch the
VIDEO HERE.
Clinton was talking to station WHYY about the fallout over his comparison of Obama's South Carolina primary victory with the support of black Democrats to Jesse Jackson's primary wins. Those comments were portrayed by critics as an attempt to highlight Obama's race.
The former president fumed on Monday that it was Obama's campaign that injected the race issue.
"I think that they played the race card on me. And we now know, from memos from the campaign and everything that they planned to do it all along," Bill Clinton said in a telephone interview with WHYY's Susan Phillips. "I was stating a fact, and it's still a fact."
The former president says the comment was "used out of context and twisted for political purposes by the Obama camapign."
Clinton goes on to say that "you have to really go some place to play the race card on me." He lists a number of his accomplishments on behalf of African Americans, inexplicably putting the fact that he has "an office in Harlem" at the top of the list.
Clinton's outburst began when Phillips asked the President how he feels about one Philadelphia official who says she switched her support after interpreting Clinton's remarks in South Carolina as an attempt to marginalize Obama as "the black candidate."
Clearly, Clinton seems frustrated by the question or the suggestion by anyone - either the reporter or the Philadelphia official whom she quoted - that he was somehow making a negative statement about Obama (or Jesse Jackson) based on their race.
His frustration comes through towards the end of the recording when, apparently unaware that he was still on the line, Clinton asks whoever is with him, "I don't think I should take any s--t from anybody on that, do you?"
Listen to Clinton on WHYY by clicking here.
ABC News' Sunlen Miller and Sarah Amos contributed to this report.
April 22, 2008 in Bush, George W., Kucinich, Dennis, Tancredo, Tom | Permalink | User Comments (421)
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lmao whinning about that Bill Clinton. how does it feel to have a lable like that. Then to end off being a hothead like McCain shows your true colors just like cai
Posted by: BVosler-Cruz | Apr 22, 2008 7:53:45 AM
Bill is absolutly correct. Blacks are voting for Obama more for his color than anything else..
Bill's comment is far less offensive than the "Typical White Person" comment by OBAMA and the white thrashing that happens every sunday in Obama's church and many such churches across the country.
Posted by: Rick | Apr 22, 2008 8:00:20 AM
I hope the press keeps on interviewing Bill because everytime he opens his mouth, Obama get another vote.
Posted by: JENNY | Apr 22, 2008 8:03:48 AM
JAKE -- you broke that Jesse story - but you never gave the complete tape. All we had was Bill's comment about Jesse. WE do not have the question or series of questions that led to it. I agree that this is unfair. Context matters. Even Jesse Jackson said this - that he fears the statements are being taken out of context. DOES ANYONE HAVE THE FULL INTERVIEW???
Posted by: tony | Apr 22, 2008 8:07:08 AM
DOES ANYONE HAVE THE FULL INTERVIEW? TIRED OF JUST HEARING THAT ONE ANSWER - WHICH SEEMS CUT OFF.
Posted by: tony | Apr 22, 2008 8:09:06 AM
Bill doesn't keep bringing it, he keeps being asked the question...If he says,"we've moved pass that", it looks like he's dodging the question, if he answers, he keeps the fire smoldering...It's like a catch 22..
Posted by: dbaragona | Apr 22, 2008 8:10:17 AM
I really can't wait until this thing is over and we don't have to listen to the whining Clintons anymore! They've become incredibly annoying.
Posted by: dgfiit | Apr 22, 2008 8:10:28 AM
Bill,
The South Carolina primary was MONTHS AGO. Stop whining about that. That is OVER.
Move on and concentrate on winning the rest of the primaries.
Posted by: Stacey | Apr 22, 2008 8:17:49 AM
the only problem I see with this is Rick Klein calling President Clinton's remarks an "outburst". He sounds perfectly calm and reasoned to me. Why do you all try to out FOX each other and make controversy where none exists?
Posted by: NewHampster | Apr 22, 2008 8:19:33 AM
If you don't want to get dirty, don't put your uniform on ...
If you can't take the heat get out of the kitchen.
Same old Clinton passive/aggressive tactics ...
In the words of Al Gore, "It's time for them to go."
Posted by: jeb jackson | Apr 22, 2008 8:20:31 AM
That's right Jeb.
Time for both of the mudslinging candidates to go.
Interesting that you should quote the man who can win the White House.
But, they won't. These two will fight all the way to the convention in August.
And, Al Gore, the only truly qualified candidate with any respect, will be nominated.
Remember 1968...
Posted by: Jayhawk | Apr 22, 2008 8:25:11 AM
Obama has been playing the race card from the very beginning. If anyone calls his hand on it, or anything else that he says for that matter, he whines and cries foul. Remember the last debate when he stated that it was 45 minutes before a question was asked about the issues? Sorry Obama, but your associates and your past remarks, have a great impact on how you plan to handle the issues. I am a lifelong Democrat who will vote for McCain if Obama is the party's nominee.
Posted by: savethemiddleclass | Apr 22, 2008 8:26:10 AM
It is true that Obama played the race card first as part of his Rovian tactic to hit his opponent on his strengths. There is a four page memo sent by Obama's campaign to the press with talking points for the media in how to paint the Clintons as racists. The media has done a poor job in exposing the racist element in Obama's campaign.
Posted by: tiffany | Apr 22, 2008 8:27:39 AM
I SAW the COMPLETE TAPE!
BILL IS LIEING!
AGAIN!
Posted by: Sam | Apr 22, 2008 8:29:56 AM
Bill the Bubba has nobody to blame but himself. More than once, his egotistical mouth got his wife Hillary into trouble.
Posted by: ablanche08 | Apr 22, 2008 8:30:49 AM
Hello World, does clintons thinks America is a family run business, coming out again to open his mouth we are tired of your lies. No one is playing card rather than you.
you better beleave on the change AMERICA's ARE CALLING FOR!!!!!!!
Posted by: Greencircuit | Apr 22, 2008 8:31:34 AM
This adds insult to injury.
He DID do it. And now, to BLAME Obama??
I think the Clintons have lost it.
Posted by: cheryl | Apr 22, 2008 8:32:21 AM
OMG! Is anyone paying attention to the Clintons! Bill is pushing so hard for this because it will be his 3rd term, not Hillary's. No one has said the obvious so I will, anyone supporting her is doing it so that Bill can be president one more time. I agree with one writer, we are seeing their true colors now. All this time they profess to be for the minorities in this country, that is until a minority runs against Hillary, then they both put back on their "hoods" and the real Clintons came out. I'm stunned at the tactics they have used, its like a mother eating her own cubs, the Democratic party is ruined and and they are soley to blame. I'm a lifelong Democrat who will NOT vote for Hillary, if she is the nominee, McCain gets my vote, at least we know what he's about.
Posted by: Belinda | Apr 22, 2008 8:36:12 AM
Obama has been playing the race card all along...His its time for a change speeches are aimed at African Americans to get them on his side to vote for him. Obama is a joke, if he happens to hold on and win the nomination for democratic candidate, my vote will go over to Mccain. No way do i want that joke Obama to be my leader.
Posted by: ryan | Apr 22, 2008 8:36:21 AM
I MUST SAY THIS BILL CLINTON IS RIGHT.I AM A BLACK PERSON BUT WHEN YOU START SAYING BILL CLINTON IS RACES THEN YOU REALLY DO NOT KNOW WHO AND WHAT RACES IS YOU ARE KIDDING ME. THE LAST PERSON WHO YOU CALL A RACES IS BILL HE HAD DONE SO MUCH FOR THE BLACK PEOPLE.PEOPLE WAS FALLING FOR THIS TRICK THE OBAMA CAMPAIGN USED HE IS PLAYING THE VICTIM . THE BLACK AMERCIAN VOTES FOR OBAMA BECAUSE HE IS BLACK NOT BECAUSE OF THAT TWISTED REMARK.THEY VOTE FOR HIM BECAUSE HE IS A SYMBOL FOR THE AFRICAN AMRICAN PEOPLE AND NOW THEY HAVE A CHANCE TO MAKE HISTORY NOT BECAUSE OF BILL CLINTON REMARKS.I MUST SAY IT REALLY SAD FOR SOME OF US BLACK PEOPLE BECAUSE IT IS TRUE WHEN A WHITE PERSON DISAGREED OR NOT FRIENDLY OR WHAT EVER REASON THEY WILL BE ACCUSE OF BEING RACES OR THEY DO NOT LIKE BLACK.I AM NOT SAYING THERE IS NOT RACES OUT THERE. AND IT NOT ONLY HAPPING HERE BUT ALL OVER THE WORLD. OBAMA IS USING THE SAME TRICKS . YOU SEE THAT OFTEN THE OBAMA CAMPAIGN IS USING THE RACE
Posted by: shelia | Apr 22, 2008 8:37:30 AM
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